Display instrument

ABSTRACT

An indicating instrument has a pointer ( 1 ) driven by a measuring mechanism by a pointer spindle ( 3 ). The pointer has a region ( 10 ) on the pointer hub side which in cross section has the form of an H. This H is formed by a horizontal bar ( 20 ) and two outer bars ( 21, 22 ). Ribs ( 23, 24 ) extending in zigzag form above and below the horizontal bar ( 20 ) increase the rigidity of the region ( 10 ) on the pointer hub side.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns an indicating instrument, in particular for avehicle, having a pointer arranged on a rotatable pointer spindle of ameasuring mechanism with a pointer hub and a pointer vane, the pointervane having a region on the hub side that is covered or obscured fromthe viewer and a region remote from the hub that is visible for theviewer.

In contemporary indicating instruments there is often a first region ofa pointer that is not visible for the viewer, because arranged in frontof the pointer is a display which can indicate information independentlyof the pointer. Such embodiments require relatively long pointers andresult in considerable pointer weights. This weight often becomes sogreat, on account of the counterweight on the side of the hub oppositefrom the pointer vane necessary for balancing masses, that the torque ofcontemporary measuring mechanisms is no longer adequate to move thepointer quickly enough or at all. If a smaller cross section is chosenfor the pointer vane to make it more lightweight, vibrations of the kindthat are unavoidable in a motor vehicle, for example, cause the pointervane to oscillate, which makes it more difficult to read the indicatinginstrument and gives the impression of inadequate quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the problem of providing, an indicatinginstrument of the type stated at the beginning in such a way that itspointer has the lowest weight possible, without tending to oscillate asa result of vibrations of the indicating instrument. This problem issolved according to the invention by the covered region of the pointervane on the pointer hub side having a profiled cross section.

In comparison with a pointer vane of a solid profile, such a profiledcross section allows the weight of the pointer to be reducedsignificantly while having the same strength. Since the profiled crosssection according to the invention is covered or obscured, the profilingis not visible, so that the viewer is not confronted with a pointer ofan unaccustomed appearance.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the pointerhas at least one light launching surface and can be illuminated by lightwhich can be launched into it from a light source. As a result, thepointer can be additionally highlighted, in particular when thesurroundings are dark, and the indicating instrument can be read better,without the driver of the vehicle being distracted from the trafficsituation.

Light can be launched into the pointer from a single light source,arranged in the region of the pointer hub, independently of the positionof the pointer, if, according to an advantageous development of theinvention, the light launching surface is arranged in the region of thepointer hub and the region of the pointer vane on the pointer hub sidehas at least one bar extending continuously over its entire region inthe longitudinal direction of the pointer.

An alternative embodiment is distinguished in that the light launchingsurface is arranged behind the region of the pointer vane on the pointerhub side, as seen from the pointer hub. In the case of such anembodiment, the profiling can be designed in any way desired, becausethere is no need to provide a possibility for light guidance through theprofiled region. However, launching the light then requires a pluralityof light sources arranged on a circular arc, an arcuate light source oran arcuate light strip. Since, however, this is to be arranged at aradial distance from the pointer hub and usually outside the measuringmechanism, such an arrangement does not result in space problems.

The profiled cross section of the pointer vane may be differentlydesigned. It is of a very simple form and, if appropriate, allowsflooding of the light from the launching surface on the pointer hub sidethrough the entire pointer, if the region of the pointer vane on thepointer hub side is formed as an H, U, T or double-T profile.

The pointer vane can be produced in a particularly simple way and hasvery good light-guiding properties if, according to an advantageousdevelopment of the invention, the region of the pointer vane on thepointer hub side is formed as a U profile and the height of the crossbaris greater than the height of the lateral bars of the U.

The region of the pointer vane on the pointer hub side is advantageouslyprovided with ribs, so that the pointer vane has in this region alatticework structure which, while being of particularly low weight,nevertheless ensures great rigidity of the pointer. The ribs arepreferably arranged approximately vertically or approximatelyhorizontally, the horizontal arrangement of the ribs offeringparticularly great rigidity of the pointer vane in the transversedirection, i.e. in the direction of the pointer deflection, and thevertical rib arrangement increasing the pointer stability in thedirection perpendicular to the plane passed over by the pointer vane.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the stabilityof the pointer is particularly great, with low pointer weight, if theribs are arranged in an undulating or zigzag form. The undulatingarrangement can further simplify the process for producing the pointer,which is generally an injection-molded component of plastic, whereaswith the arrangement in zigzag form it is possible to achieve optimumweight and stability of the pointer.

The pointer is particularly stable and permits the mold to be easilyopened or the pointer can be easily removed from the mold if the regionof the pointer vane on the pointer hub side is formed as an H profileand the ribs extend above and/or below the middle bar of the H. The sameapplies if, according to an advantageous development of the invention,the region of the pointer vane on the pointer hub side is formed as adouble-T profile and the ribs extend to the right and/or left side ofthe middle bar of the double T.

It contributes to a further increase in stability if, according toanother development of the invention, the ribs on either side of the barare offset in relation to one another. In the case of ribs in anundulating or zigzag form, they are preferably offset by half aninterval in relation to one another on either side of the bar, furtherincreasing stability.

If the covering is brought about by a display or part of an instrumentpanel, the pointer may initially extend between this display or theinstrument panel and the measuring mechanism and extend with its endregion in the plane of the display or instrument panel or above it ifthe pointer has behind the region of the pointer vane on the pointer hubside, as seen from the pointer hub, an offset directed toward the viewerand, following this offset, a pointer tip directed radially inward oroutward. In this way, the display or part of the instrument panel thatwould otherwise be passed over by the pointer remains free for furtherindications.

Light can be launched optimally into such an offset pointer if theoffset directed toward the viewer has toward the opposite side of thepointer a light launching projection which has the light launchingsurface at its end facing away from the viewer.

A particularly lightweight pointer with at the same time a very goodlight guiding capability is obtained if the pointer consists ofpolycarbonate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention allows numerous embodiments. Two of these are describedbelow and are represented in the drawings, in which.

FIG. 1 shows a pointer designed according to the invention in side view,with a measuring mechanism and a covering,

FIG. 2 shows a cross section along line II—II through the pointeraccording to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the pointer according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a second embodiment of a pointer accordingto the invention,

FIG. 5 shows a cross section along line V—V through the pointeraccording to FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the pointer according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows a pointer in partial cross-section having a T profile,

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a pointer according to the present claimedinvention, and

FIG. 9 shows a cross section along the line IX—IX through the pointeraccording FIG. 8.

FIG. 7 shows a pointer in partial cross-section having a T profile. FIG.8 shows a plan view of a pointer according to the present claimedinvention and FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the pointer shown in FIG.8. This figure illustrates the pointer having a double-T profile.

FIG. 1 shows a pointer 1, which is fastened to a pointer hub 2 on apointer spindle 3 of a measuring mechanism 4. Arranged in the measuringmechanism 4 are two light sources 5 (for example LEDs or incandescentlamps), which can launch light into the pointer hub 2 via a lightlaunching surface 7. A light source 6, which is able to launch lightdirectly into the pointer spindle 3 if the latter is formed as a lightguide, may be additionally or alternatively provided. Provided above thepointer hub 2 in the pointer 1 is a deflecting surface 8, by which thelight is deflected from the pointer hub 2 and/or the pointer spindle 3in the longitudinal direction of the pointer 1 and is fed to a pointervane.

Arranged above the pointer 1 is a display 9, which covers a region 10 ofthe pointer vane on the pointer hub side. This region 10 on the pointerhub side projects at the edge of the display 9 with an offset 11 untilit is above the front side of the display 9. The offset 11 is followedin a region of the pointer vane remote from the hub by a pointer tip 12,which passes over a scale 13 of the indicating instrument. By means ofdeflecting surfaces 14, 15, the light can flood from the region 10 onthe pointer hub side into the pointer tip 12 of the pointer vane,visible for a viewer, and thereby illuminate the pointer 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the region 10 on the pointer hub side has incross section the form of an inverted U and is formed by bars 16, 17,18, which extend throughout the entire length of the region of thepointer vane on the pointer hub side, so that the light can be guided inthem up to the deflecting surface 14.

The plan view according to FIG. 3 shows that the pointer 1 has on theside of the hub 2 that is opposite from the pointer vane a counterweight19, so that the masses on either side of the pointer spindle 3 arebalanced.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the region 10 of thepointer vane of the pointer 1 on the pointer hub side is designed insuch a way that it has an even lower weight than in the embodimentpreviously shown. As FIG. 5 shows, the region 10 on the pointer hub sidehas in cross section the form of an H, which is formed by a horizontalbar 20 and two lateral bars 21, 22. These lateral bars 21, 22 areconnected to each other by ribs 23, 24 extending in zigzag form aboveand below the horizontal bar 20. The zigzag path followed by these ribs23, 24 can be seen in FIG. 6, this FIG. 6 at the same time showing thatthe ribs 24 below the bar 20 are offset by half an interval in relationto the ribs 23 above the bar 20.

A further distinguishing feature of the embodiment according to FIGS. 4,5 and 6 in comparison with that according to the preceding figures isthat, for launching light from a light source 25, the pointer 1 has alaunching surface 26 on a light launching projection 27. The launchingprojection is provided in the region of the offset 11 and extends in thedirection opposite to that of the offset 11. Since the launching surface26 in this embodiment moves on a circular arc about the pointer spindle3 when the pointer 1 moves, it is necessary to provide a plurality oflight sources 25 on a circular arc or an arcuate light source or anarcuate, luminous surface for the launching of light. In addition or asan alternative to the approximately vertically arranged light sources25, correspondingly designed light sources 28 which feed lightapproximately horizontally into the light launching projection 27 may beprovided. The surface 26 is in this case partly or completely alight-deflecting surface.

What is claimed is:
 1. An indicating instrument for use in a vehicle,comprising a pointer arranged on a rotatable pointer spindle of ameasuring mechanism with a pointer hub and a pointer vane, the pointervane having a region on a hub side that is covered or obscured from aviewer by a display and a region remote from the hub that is visible forthe viewer, wherein the covered region (10) of the pointer vane on thepointer hub side has a profiled cross section, the region (10) of thepointer vane on the pointer hub side is formed as an H, U, T or double-Tprofile wherein the pointer (1) has at least one light launching surface(7; 26) and is illuminatable by light which can be launched into saidpointer from a light source (5, 6; 25, 28), said light launching surfacearranged in a region of the pointer hub (2) and the region (10) of thepointer vane on the pointer hub side has at least one bar (16, 17, 18)extending continuously over its entire region in longitudinal directionof the pointer, wherein the pointer (1) has behind the region (10) ofthe pointer vane on the pointer hub side, as seen from the pointer hub(2), an offset (11) directed toward the viewer and, following thisoffset (11), a pointer tip (12) directed radially inward or outward andthe offset (11) directed toward the viewer has toward an opposite sideof the pointer a light launching projection (27) which has the lightlaunching surface (26) at its end facing away from the viewer.
 2. Anindicating instrument for use in a vehicle, comprising a pointerarranged on a rotatable pointer spindle of a measuring mechanism with apointer hub and a pointer vane, the pointer vane having a region on ahub side that is covered or obscured from a viewer by a display and aregion remote from the hub that is visible for the viewer, wherein thecovered region (10) of the pointer vane on the pointer hub side has aprofiled cross section, wherein the pointer (1) has behind the region(10) of the pointer vane on the pointer hub side, as seen from thepointer hub (2), an offset (11) directed toward the viewer and,following this offset (11), a pointer tip (12) directed radially inwardor outward, and wherein the offset (11) directed toward the viewer hastoward an opposite side of the pointer a light launching projection (27)which has the light launching surface (26) at its end facing away fromthe viewer.